Synopsis:
Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summer crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins.
A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.
Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realize that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.
But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.
Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?
I am a big Lisa Jewell fan. The only book of hers I have read and did not like was The Family Remains (sequel to The Family Upstairs…LOVED The Family Upstairs but The Family Remains just seemed like it was written by someone else…just weird). Anyhoo… I had been on the waitlist for this book for the past few months. I finally get the book (ebook) only to start reading it when I get the “you have three days remaining” notice (and no, I couldn’t extend my time due to the waitlist). Thankfully, the Canadian cold front barreled through the weekend, so I chose to stay indoors and read (and read and read LOL). Needless to say, I was able to finish it with time remaining.
So, did I like this book? Yes (and no). I did enjoy the book but it was not my favorite one by Lisa Jewell. It did keep me reading and wondering (duh…I mean, I did finish it in three days). I actually do think, though, it would be a good book club book. I mean, there are some serious questions that could be discussed (I’ll state some of mine at the end…will contain spoilers so don’t read past that point). Jewell actually gives a reading discussion guide at the end of the book.
I know some may think some of this storyline is just far-fetched. However, I think she brings it all together towards the end, tying up some thoughts you may have as you read. If you like Lisa Jewell, then read this book. If you have never read any of her books, I would not start with this one (search her name on my blog to find another one).
Happy Reading!
Now…I am about to post spoilers below this line so do not read past this line if you are going to read this book!!!
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My thoughts and reflections (remember…spoilers)…
1) Y’all, by the end of the book, I was expecting a twist where Alix indicated how she had planned the entire thing and actually used Josie to carry out her plan. I’m a “Freida Readah” so what can I say? In all honesty, that would have made for a great ending. Talk about “none of this is true”!
2) I have known one family who took in strangers (family was displaced by Katrina) but other than that, I can’t really say I know anyone who would open her home to a complete stranger, especially with two young kids in the house. I know Alix was wanting a story but letting Josie stay a week just seemed blah.
3) I do think the way everything ended leaves you guessing as to what the real story is. I do wish Josie would have been caught and brought to justice. However, let’s say she was captured, would anyone really know what the true story was? There is so much contradiction I can’t see much progress on any type of charge.
I know I have some more thoughts so will add more later…the first thought was my main one (that would actually be a great sequel)!!!!!
